Main Islands Of Hawaii…

Hawai’i is made up of 8 main islands – Hawai’i, Maui, Oahu, Kaua’i, Molokai’i, Lana’i, Ni’ihau and Kaho’olawe (The Southeastern Hawaiian islands). The chain of Northwestern Hawaiian islands lies beyond Kauai and Ni’ihau.
http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/pibhmc/NWHI_images/NWHI.jpg

Chinese New Year in Hawaii

KUNG HEE FAT CHOY!!!
Chinese New Year is celebrated on the second new moon after the winter solstice.   This year it falls on February 3 and, in Chinese Astrology, this is the year of the Rabbit. 
Here in Hawaii celebrations were held on January 14-15, 21-22 and 28-29.  The Lion Dance is one of the most popular traditions. [...]

Pilau

Although this word is not used as much as before most local people will know what this word means, used mostly when someone swears a lot or does something ethically wrong.
Used in context:
You went go see da pilau ting that bugga went go do?
That bugga get one pilau mouth!
Or, as we use it when someone [...]

Hawaiian Monk Seal

Why are these Seals unique? While most seals are found in colder waters, the Hawaiian Monk Seals enjoy the lounging on the warm beaches of Hawaii. While you may spot some on the Northern islands such as Kauai, there have been spottings on the other islands as well. Most of the Seals live in the [...]

Aloha Spirit

What exactly is “Aloha Spirit?” Did you know that there is actually a law that is written in the Hawai’i Revised Statutes on the Aloha Spirit (read HRS below) . So this goes a lot deeper than what we normally see written about the meaning of Aloha or the Aloha Spirit.  
 So here’s a story – [...]

Mele Kalikimaka

Mele Kalikimaka is a transliteration of Merry Christmas. The Hawaiian language has 13 sounds and 13 alphabets. We won’t go into the process of analyzing how “Merry Christmas” got to “Mele Kalikimaka” but as a simple example the Hawaiian language does not have the letter “R” so “L” is its subtitute and the “li” becomes [...]

TITA….

The word “TITA,” pronounced – TIT-ah, has a number of different meanings. It also depends on how you say it, much like how you would say “Hello.” Hello can be said in a way that it means, “…is anyone home?”, ”…yes, what do you want now…”, “…can I get your name and number?” or simply as [...]

The Hawai’i State Flag – Current and “Original?”

In 1816, Kamehameha the Great authorized the creation of the current Hawaiian Flag to represent the nation, Hawaii. Hawaii’s independence was challenged in 1843 by Lord Paulette but on July 31, 1843, Admiral Thomas was sent by Great Britain to officially restore and recognize Hawaii’s sovereignty and flag.
This was the birth of “Ua mau ke [...]

Wassa-matta You?

You would hear this most often said when someone is doing something or has done something they shouldn’t have… “Eh – Sonny boy – Wassa-matta you?” So translated, Sonny boy, what is the matter with you? but coupled with the look of astonishment, with mouth open, frown and snarled upper lip, this phrase can take [...]

Hana Wai Da Yard…

Old Time Pidgin:
Used in the context of, “Eh – Sonny boy – Go Hana Wai da yard.”  Pronounced “Ha-Na” “Vah-ee.” Meaning, “Water the yard.” 
Not as widely used as “Sistah” or “Bruddah” perhaps because it entails WORK!
Now-a-days you will probably hear, “Eh- Sonny boy – Go Wadda da yard.”  Wadda pronounced, “Wa-Duh” and da prounounced “Duh.”